THE SADAT ASSASSINATION

Transcription

1 THE SADAT ASSASSINATION A sourcebook for researchers U.S. State Department files on the 1981 assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat J.M. Berger, Editor INTELWIRE PRESS 2007, J.M. BERGER

2 ii THE SADAT ASSASSINATION SOURCEBOOK On Oct. 6, 1981, a conspiracy of terrorists from Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Takfir Wal Hijra, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic Group assassinated Anwar Sadat during a military parade. The event rocked the Arab world and imperiled the Middle East peace process -- which Sadat had advanced immeasurably by opening talks with Israel. Along with the Siege at Mecca (also covered in an Intelwire Sourcebook Series), the Sadat assassination is one of the seminal moments leading to our current conflict. It was an opening salvo in what we now understand to be the War on Terror. These documents cover approximately the first 30 days after Sadat's murder. Subsequent editions will examine the trial of his assassins and related issues. All documents were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. --- J.M. Berger

3 iii Index of Documents 10/06/81 -- FIRST REPORT... 1 (The initial State Department cable announcing Sadat's assassination.) 10/06/81 -- PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT... 7 (President Ronald Reagan responds to news of the attack.) 10/06/81 -- INITIAL ISRAELI REACTION... 9 (A confidential report on how Israeli government concerns regarding regional political implications.) 10/07/81 -- FIJI REACTION, SUPPORT FOR SINAI WITHDRAWAL (In the wake of the killing, governments around the world moved to express their support for continuing Sadat's peace initiatives. Fiji had committed peacekeeping troops for a multinational force in the Sinai peninsula at the time.) 10/07/81 -- ALERT MESSAGE (Egyptian government assures US diplomatic personnel that there is no threat to them deriving from the assassination.) 10/07/81 -- INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY (An overview of developments in the wake of the assassination and a detailed account of what actually happened, as it was known at the time. The early intelligence, in this case, is quite good. Includes reaction from around the world.) 10/07/81 -- OMAN REACTION (Fairly routine condolences.) 10/07/81 -- WEST BANK AND JERUSALEM PRESS REVIEW (Israeli newspaper coverage and reactions.) 10/07/81 -- MIDDLE EAST MEDIA REACTIONS (Overview of regional news coverage.) 10/07/81 -- STATEMENT BY SECSTATE ALEXANDER HAIG (Condolences and wishes to continue the peace process.) 10/07/81 -- BEIRUT REACTION (Numerous claims of responsibility, mostly non-credible.) 10/07/81 -- MOURNING PERIOD (Cuban government decrees three days of mourning for Sadat, but cable warns that regime is actually pleased with the shift in balance of power.)

4 iv 10/07/81 -- STATE DEPARTMENT PRESS BRIEFING (Haig statement and transcript of brief Q&A session with press.) 10/08/81 -- MOROCCAN AMBASSADOR RECEPTION (Diplomatic occasion featuring discussion of assassination.) 10/08/81 -- END OF AN ERA: THE ASSASSINATION OF SADAT (Summary of the evolving political situation.) 10/09/81 -- WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT (Flags to be flown at half mast.) 10/09/81 -- FIJI COVERAGE, POST-ASSASSINATION (Additional analysis and reaction.) 10/09/81 -- MESSAGE FROM CONGRESSMAN WRIGHT (An evocative personal account of Sadat's legacy.) 10/11/81 -- UAE DENOUNCES ASSASSINATION (Although they condemned the act, the government refused to send a delegation to Sadat's funeral because Israeli prime minister Begin was attending.) 10/12/81 -- SITUATION IN EGYPT (SECRET) (Guidance for ambassadors to discuss the Sadat situation with their host governments.) 10/13/81 -- EGYPTIAN-ARAB RAPPROACHMENT (Discussion of US Middle East policy.) 10/14/81 -- CANADIAN SUPPORT FOR PEACE PROCESS (Canadian parliament condemns killing, supports continuation of Camp David negotiations.) 10/14/81 -- SITUATION IN EGYPT (SECRET) (Follow-up discussion of talking points for US ambassadors.) 10/15/81 -- US POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST (Excerpts from press coverage.) 10/16/81 -- AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMAT WOUNDED IN ATTACK (Government expresses gratitude for assistance from US army doctors and for evacuation assistance.) 10/30/81 -- ARAFAT VISIT TO JAPAN (Includes discussion of Sadat assassination, prospects for the Middle East Peace process and a Saudi proposal for peace.) 10/31/81 -- MIDDLE EAST SPEECH DRAFT (SECRET) (Draft of speech for Alexander Haig on "peace and security in the Middle East.")

5 v 11/06/81 -- AUSTRALIAN PM ON MIDDLE EAST (Australian participation in peacekeeping efforts, discussion of Sadat's role and impact of his assassination.) 11/06/81 -- AD HOC GROUP MEETING ON MEDITERRANEAN (Impact of Sadat assassination on US-Soviet strategic manuevers.) 11/09/81 -- MIDDLE EAST EXPERTS REPORT (Implications of Sadat assassination on Egyptian domestic and foreign policies as analyzed by NATO experts.) 11/15/ DAY MOURNING PERIOD ENDS (Ceremonial observance and respects from Arab leaders.) 11/17/81 -- CAIRO AMBASSADOR ARTICLE ON SADAT (Descriptions of security issues for embassy personnel, and the ramifications of Sadat's death for diplomats.) 11/17/81 -- LIBYAN SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM (Information sent from U.S. government to Pakistani government regarding Libyan support for terrorism.) 11/25/81 -- CAIRO COURTROOM DRAMA BEGINS (First day coverage of the trial of Sadat's assassins, including blind Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman.)